History

People

Resources

Who are the People Involved in WomenExplore?

WomenExplore's Speakers

In the early 1980s faculty from other Harvard Schools began to be invited to speak, as well as lawyers, legislators, authors, journalists, environmentalists, psychologists and psychotherapists from the Greater Boston area. All of our speakers have generously given their time without any honoraria.

Participants in WomenExplore

Between 25 and 50 people, mostly women, usually attend WE. Our chronological ages range from the 20s to the 80s. In our past and present religious orientations we represent a diverse range of religions as well as the non-religious, and welcome all faiths. We are daughters, sisters, wives, mothers, aunts, great-aunts and grandmothers. We are teachers, clergy, housewives, psychotherapists, physicists, business women, lawyers, architects, authors, composers, singers, gardeners, caregivers, artists, and craftswomen. Our participants are a very intelligent, sensitive and responsive group to speak to. We all share an interest in gaining deeper insight into our lives, our relationships and our world.

Participants travel up to two-and-a-half hours to come to our Thursday half-days. WomenExplore mails to about 500 alumni in Greater Boston, Eastern Massachusetts, Cape Cod, Rhode Island, a few in Hartford CT and the Amherst MA area, a few in Vermont, a considerable number in southern New Hampshire, and a few in Maine. We typically get a handful of new attenders each Thursday. Most come because a friend brings them. Since 1973 more than 4,500 have participated.

The Advisory Committee

The Advisory Committee is an open group of women which meets with the Program Coordinator, or selects a Planning Facilitator, to plan WE's fall and spring conferences. All WE participants are welcome to attend the Advisory Committe meetings. Not everyone comes every time. But over the afternoons of the planning process 30 to 40 women take part in giving shape to each new series. When acting in its planning capacity, which is what it spends most of its time on, this group is often referred to as the Planning Committee. At other times the Advisory Committee meets with the Executive Director to consider any other matter that might affect WE. (To date the Program Coordinator and Executive Director positions have always been filled by the one person.)

People who took part in the Advisory Committee in recent years include:

WomenExplore Board

It is the job of the Board to oversee the executive director and to ensure that WomenExplore faithfully carries out its purpose without extravagance or waste. The Board is responsible for providing leadership on financial matters, fund-raising and marketing. The major decisions remain in the hands of the large Advisory Committee. Any "processes" considered by the board will be submitted to the Advisory Committee for approval.

Since 2008 the Board has been elected by the Advisory Committee. Two year term limits were introduced in 2011 and Board elections were required to take place annually. (A retiring Board member may stand for election again.) The last Board election took place at the Advisory Committee meeting in May 2016. The terms of five Board members were expiring and five new members were elected or re-elected. One of the new members resigned and has been replaced in a special election. The next Board elections will occur at the end of the Spring 2017 series, at the last or second last Advisory Committee meeting.

Development Committee (Fundraising Committee)

Website Committee

Search Committee 2

— led to the selection of Maria Behnke as the new Executive Director starting in December 2012, and previously Tracey Hurd starting in February 2012.

Mailing Committee

— responsible for December mailing
— chair is Judith Cohen

Events Committee

— as the Party Committee organized the garden party held in June 2010 in honor of Elizabeth and David Dodson Gray on the occasion of their retirement
— under the leadership of Lindsa Vallee organized the 40th Anniversary celebrations.
— Martha Nielsen and Mary Rose Muti are currently active.

Previous Subcommittees:

Search Committee 1

— was set up following the recommendations of the Transition Task Force.
— was to find one or more people to replace Elizabeth and David Dodson Gray when they retired at the end of May 2010.
— members were Charlene Brotman, Anna Donovan, Angela Maffeo, Emily Robertson, Esther Scanlan, Sandy Wayne, Cheryl Suchors (co-opted), Susan Nulsen (co-opted)
— after advertizing and interviewing candidates, selected three to present to the Advisory Committee. Conducted election at which the second Executive Director/Program Coordinator was chosen
— led to the selection of Muna Killingback as the new Executive Director and Program Coordinator starting in August 2010

Transition Task Force

— continued the work of the Growth and Sustainability Committee. It made a report to the Advisory Committee before dissolving.
— the Advisory Committee voted to determine the preferred models for succession.
— members were Helen Barron, Charlene Brotman, Chris Farrow-Noble, Louise McMurray, Elizabeth Wolfe Morse, Susan Nulsen, Cheryl Suchors, Sandy Wayne

Growth and Sustainablity Committee

— examined the organization of TOP after Liz and David
retire. It has made a report to the board and is now dissolved.
— members were Jadzia Allison, Elizabeth Wolfe Morse, Pat
Morris and Octavia Porter Randolph.

Nominations to the Board Committee

— looked at how new board members might be democratically selected. It has made a report to the board, which was accepted by the board and AC and now provides the basis of all WE elections. This committee is now dissolved.
— members were Louise McMurray (Chair), Sandy Wayne, Erica B.K. and Susan Nulsen.